Next week is a milestone. Yes, a milestone. I take my oldest to college. How can that be? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I dropped him off with his larger than life backpack for kindergarten?  I remember that day. I wasn’t going to cry. I wasn’t sad. I was excited for him. Why would I cry? I will never forget how my emotions snuck up on me that day once he went into his classroom. The tears came out of nowhere. Tears because my little buddy was not my baby anymore. Tears of excitement for his new journey. Tears because I cannot control clocks-time flies by so quickly. Tears because this was a new, uncharted phase of life.

Fast-forward thirteen years. The little buddy has grown into a little man. He is smart. He is funny. He is ready to take the next step in life. He is ready to be independent. Part of this rite of passage occurred last weekend. We went college dorm room shopping. It was so fun. Bedding, towels, trash cans, lamps, all the essential dorm room supplies. Don’t forget wall decorations. He has picked out a pirate flag that we stock for his one and only wall decoration. Over the next month we will get a ton of request for Dorm Room Flags. Colorado Flags, Italy Flag, Mexico Flags, and of course, the Jolly Roger Flag. We carry all country, state and a full line of novelty flags that are perfect for a dorm room.

When we were finished I said, “Aren’t you glad we have that finished and you are set to go?” He said, “Thank you Mom, but really this shopping day was for you. You feel better that I am ready to go.” I am not going to cry. I am not sad. I am excited for him. Why would I cry?